After a day off on Monday, the Mets returned home to Citi Field on Tuesday to open a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Entering Tuesday night’s matchup, the Cardinals owned a 2-1 season-series lead over the Mets, and they extended that by defeating New York 7-0.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Right-handed pitcher Dustin May (3-6, 4.27 ERA, 65 SO) took the mound for the Cardinals against right-hander Freddy Peralta (4-4, 4.04 ERA, 79 SO) for the Mets.

Peralta didn’t have his best stuff on Tuesday as the Cardinals got to him early. The Cardinals scored four in the third—two on a single by JJ Wetherholt, one on an RBI double by Jordan Walker, and another on a Lars Nootbaar recorded an RBI on a groundout.

The Cardinals added onto their lead in the fifth on a two-run home run by Alec Burleson with one on to make it a 6-0 St. Louis lead.

Still making it through six innings, Peralta gave up six hits (one home run), six earned runs, two walks, and struck out five. He also hit two batters. His six runs allowed were a season high, and his season ERA sits at 4.04 as Peralta tries to find consistency that’s eluded him all season.

Joey Gerber came in to replace Peralta on the mound for the Mets in the seventh.

Burleson stayed hot in the seventh, hitting an RBI double that scored a run and made it a 7-0 Cardinals advantage. They never looked back on that lead as they went on to shut out the Mets 7-0.

The Mets’ only hits on the night came from Carson Benge, Juan Soto, two from Ewing, and one from Francisco Alvarez, who was activated off the injured list earlier on Tuesday. Ewing’s double was the only extra base of the night. They were 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and left five on base. They were struck out as a whole eight times.

This game marked the seventh time the Mets were shut out this season, an unsettling theme.

Player of the Game

No Player of the Game tonight after this performance!.

On Deck

The Mets and Cardinals continue their series on Wednesday at 7:10 PM. It will be right-handed pitcher Andre Pallante (6-4, 3.96 ERA, 51 SO) on the mound for the Cardinals against the Mets’ righty Christian Scott (2-0, 2.50 ERA, 41 SO).